User manual

MADRIX Help and Manual7

LINKS are displayed in orange. Simply click through and you will be taken to the according chapter

within this user guide or an external website will be launched.

MADRIX and this user guide are only available in English.

1.1 What Is DMX?

About DMX

DMX512, often abridged to DMX (Digital MultipleX), is a communication protocol used mainly to

control stage lighting. It is a type of the RS-485 architecture. Developed by the Engineering

Commission of USITT, the standard took off in 1986 with subsequent revisions in 1990 leading to

USITT DMX512/1990. ESTA took control of the standard in 1998 and started an additional revision

process. The new standard, officially known as "Entertainment Technology - USITT DMX512–A -

Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and

Accessories", was approved by ANSI in November, 2004.

DMX was originally intended as a replacement for 0-10V lighting control for usage in linking

controllers and dimmers of different manufacturers; a protocol to be used as a last choice after

trying more proprietary methods. However, it soon became the primary method for not only linking

controllers and dimmers, but also linking more advanced fixtures and special effects devices, such

as fog machines and moving lights. DMX512 is unidirectional and does not allow for a response.

Therefore, it must not be used for any type of utilization involving one's safety, such as controlling

pyrotechnics. MIDI is sometimes used for this very task.

A DMX512 controller is connected to fixtures or devices in a so-called daisy-chain linkage. Each

device has a DMX-IN and usually a DMX-OUT connector-sometimes labeled as DMX thru. The

DMX-OUT port of the controller is linked via a DMX512 cable to the DMX-IN of the first fixture. A

second cable then links the DMX-OUT of the first fixture to the next device, and so forth. In

general, the last DMX-OUT connector, which is not connected, should have a DMX512 terminating

plug attached to it. This simply is a 120O resistor joining together pin 2 and 3 of the connector.

Many modern devices neglect this requirement because they are capable of auto-terminating the

link.